Comprehensive
Standard 3.4.1

The
institution demonstrates that each educational program for which academic
credit is awarded is approved by the faculty and the administration. (Academic
program approval)

Judgement: Compliant

Narrative:

The process for curriculum revision at the University of South Carolina Upstate (USC Upstate) is well developed and documented in the Faculty Manual. Unit academic affairs committees bring forward proposed changes. Curriculum changes then may be reviewed as appropriate by the General Education Committee, Interdisciplinary Programs Committee, Graduate Committee, and Executive Academic Affairs Committee. In addition, the Budget Facilities and Planning Committee has responsibility for long range planning including the addition and deletion of programs. Once approval at the committee level is obtained, a proposed change then moves to the Faculty Senate. Changes approved by Faculty Senate are submitted to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Any change introducing distance learning based programs, off-campus programs, or curriculum change is subject to the same review and governance structure. These courses are also subject to the same assessment processes and review.

All South Carolina College and University programs require oversight approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SCCHE). Following the SCCHE Guidelines, the following are examples of academic program procedures followed at USC Upstate: program planning summary and full program proposal. Planning summaries, full program proposals, and program modifications are developed as follows:

STEPS FOR APPROVAL OF NEW PROGRAMS

Academic units discuss possibility of new program with Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

If decision is to pursue a new program, a program summary using the SCCHE format is prepared by the unit and sent to the Senior Vice Chancellor for submission to SCCHE for approval. Academic Affairs submits all program summaries and, as required, program proposals to SCCHE, the University of South Carolina Columbia (USC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Once SCCHE has approved the program summary, the full program proposal is developed in collaboration with the Senior Vice Chancellor.

The full program proposal is then submitted to the Academic Affairs Committee of the school or college proposing the new program.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to faculty of school or college submitting proposal.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to Academic Budget and Facilities Planning Committee.

If approved, the undergraduate full program proposals are submitted to the Executive Academic Affairs Committee; the graduate full program proposals are submitted to the Graduate Committee.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to the Faculty Advisory Committee for inclusion on Faculty Senate agenda.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to Faculty Senate.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to Senior Vice Chancellor.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to Chancellor.

Academic Affairs submits the full program proposal to the Office of the Provost at USC.

If approved, the Office of the Provost submits the full program proposal to the President for review and approval (signature).

If approved, Office of the Provost submits the full program proposal for the agenda of the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee.

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to the Board of Trustees.

If approved, Office of the Provost sends the full program proposal to SCCHE.

SCCHE submits the full program proposal to the Advisory Committee on Academic Programs (ACAP)

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to the SCCHE Academic Affairs and Licensing Committee (CAAL)

If approved, the full program proposal is submitted to SCCHE.

Once approved, Academic Affairs submits the new program prospectus to SACS.

The University of South Carolina Upstate is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and masters degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of USC Upstate. Comments or Complaints?